ke my place." And she was given
a nearer stand.

Now she could read the words on the strings that held the men back. One
said "Drink" and another "Bad Companions," and another "Bad Temper." Bess
was very much interested, so she began to study the faces of the men who
were pushing to the top.

Why! Away up there with the first was George Meyer, her good friend from
childhood. He had many, many strings to help and only a few to hinder. And
there was Edward Mead. He was such a goody-goody at school that she
didn't care much for him. Why, he wouldn't whisper at all!

Near the middle of the hill was Philip Marks. She knew him well and he had
many things to help and many to hinder but he was surely trying. But
Granny had brought her here to see the truth about Henry Mann. Was he
here? She hadn't seen him.

First she searched among those near the top. He was such a bright boy when
out with the crowd and he had so many good things in his life that surely
he must be near the top. But he wasn't there. Neither was he near the
middle. Surely he must be there somewhere for his name began with M.
Finally she asked the man who had given her his place if he could see a
boy named Henry Mann on the hill.

"I should say I could," was the answer. "There he is near the foot of the
hill, hopelessly entangled in his drawbacks. It isn't hard to find that
young man here."

Sure enough, there he was and Bess's face grew very red as she saw all the
strings behind him. She was glad Granny had gone to sit down so that she
wouldn't see him. Perhaps she could read what some of his drawbacks were,
for he was quite near. There was, "Too much money," "Lazy," "Unkind to his
mother," "Little schooling," "Drinks and smokes and swears," "A friend of
careless girls"....

Oh, dear! Bess didn't want to read any more. What a list he had! There
were one or two good strings but they could not do much against so many
others to pull him back.

Up there very near to the top, George, her old friend, was moving on and
his face was so earnest. How different it looked as she compared him with
Henry at the foot! She had never known before that he was so handsome.
What were the strings that were pulling him forward? She leaned far
forward to see. Just then she heard Granny's voice close at her elbow.

"Were you trying to look at George, Bess? He is a long way toward manhood,
isn't he? Suppose you use my little glass to help you."

"Oh, now I can see," she answ